TawagAwit New Notes February 2010

NEW NOTES TawagAwit Newsletter

Feb 2010 Issue 2

Original Missal Songs Offered

Members of TawagAwit celebrate after their January 31 offering at Good Shepherd Parish

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We Need You

TawagAwit invites you to help in spreading God’s Word through music and other acts of love.

You can be a: (1) member; (2) supporter or (3) organizer A member is one who can attend to the regular activities of the Ministry. The minimum participation are: attendance during practice sessions of songs, usually once a week or once every two weeks AND singing with the group during the assigned mass usually once a month or once every two months.

A supporter is one who can donate services or resources to the Ministry. There are special events that TawagAwit organizes and the events need finances or helping hands.

An organizer is one who initiates the formation of a chapter in a parish. The Ministry will provide all the assistance within its means to help in the vital task.

The TawagAwit Missal songs were introduced to churchgoers in January 2010 in three Eucharistic celebrations. The original music, consisting of the Alleluia, Santo, Santo, Santo, Memorial Acclamation, Great Amen, and Kordero ng Diyos, were first offered during the Novena Mass for the Sto Nino de Cebu in the Good Shepherd Parish, Balmoral on January 10 at 7pm with Fr Ralph Barcelo as celebrant. On January 24, the Ministry led the congregation in singing during the 4:00pm Filipino mass in St Joseph’s Parish, Takapuna and rendered with more confidence the TawagAwit Missal songs. Fr Mike Tria was the main celebrant with Fr Ruben Elago and Fr Gilbert Ramos joining.

On January 31, the group again incorporated the TawagAwit Missal songs during the 11:15am Filipino mass at Good Shepherd Parish, Balmoral. The glorious delivery of the songs gained the active participation of churchgoers and drew good comments from celebrating priest Fr Elago and Dicdic del Castillo, ACFC Chaiperson. In all instances, another original song, “Sa Simbahan” was sung as gathering song. One churchgoer commented that the songs had “a catchy melody and a festive tempo.” The songs were composed by Bro Mel B Libre TawagAwit at times sings original songs inspired by Gospel Readings during masses. Its members are inspired

by Psalm 144:9: “I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.”

1-19 Danube Lane, Glen Eden, Waitakere City Auckland, New Zealand P 09 813 1616 F 09 813 1616 www.tawagawit.host56.com

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Our Vision: Harmony in the World

Our Mission: To spread God’s Word through music and other acts of love.

Our Values: Godliness We believe in God and live His Word.

Offering We share our talents, time and resources for God’s greater glory.

Devotion We commit ourselves to the mission of the Ministry.

Love We love God with all of our heart, will all our soul, with all our minds and with all our strength.

Originality We promote artistry and creativity to express our faith.

Victory over Sin We fight Satan in each and every moment of our lives.

Evangelization We bring the Light of God to those who are in the dark.

Sustainability We contribute and manage our resources effectively.

Unity We are one with the Lord, one with the Church, one with the community, and one with the Ministry.

For more information about TawagAwit, please contact Bro Mel Libre sl at tawagawit@gmail.com

Bro Peter and Sis Jamelle Gayaman dance to a native beat during their wedding celebration

Quick Notes: TawagAwit accounted for 32 activities in 2009 including Singalleluia! (May 31), Open Gathering (December 20), Alay Laya Parish Reach Outs in four parishes and Teaching Nights on three occasions. These exclude the regular missal singing in St Mary’s and St Thomas More parishes. In his message to members, Bro Mel B Libre, Lead Servant, said: “It was amazing how we did PLACE PHOTO HERE, we all have with our all those activities with the responsibilities OTHERWISE families and our companies; but DELETE with our BOX commitment and God’s help we did it! All these activities also strengthened the friendships among members and allowed members to use their talents and leadership skills. Surely God was pleased”…Bro Cyril/Sis Rose Bas are the new chapter coordinators of TawagAwit-St Mary’s Northcote vice Bro Bob/Sis Cecil Nacario. In their first meeting on January 24, 2010, the chapter members also promoted Bro Bert/Sis Rosana Adviento as Music Coordinators…Bro Mel and Sis Debbie Libre renewed their marriage vows for their 25th wedding anniversary on January 6 in St Mary’s Parish, Northcote with Fr Craig Dunford and Fr Ralph Barcelo as celebrants…Bro Peter and Sis Jamelle Gayaman, chapter coordinators of TawagAwit-St Thomas More Parish, were married in a meaningful wedding ceremony on January 9 in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Baguio City, Philippines(see photo above)…A meeting with Jenny Fox and Vai Leo, liturgical music coordinators in St Mary’s Parish and the members of TawagAwit-St Mary’s Chapter was called on January 19, 2010 at St Mary’s Church to discuss on the plans of the group for 2010. The consensus in the meeting was to further improve the group in its music offerings during the mass and to recruit new members in 2010…The family of Boy and Pat Amiscua will lead other prospective members in a projected TawagAwit chapter in the singing of the songs in the 9:30am Regular Sunday Mass on February 21, 2010 at the Good Shepherd Parish, Balmoral. The group is open to new members.

Please email: tawagawit@gmail.com

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General Audience: Pope Benedict XVI embraces a child on Jan 27(above) Environmental Degradation: A Catholic Church submerged in flood PLACE PHOTO HERE, brought about by Typhoon Ondoy in the OTHERWISE DELETE BOX Philippines (below)

Vatican Notes: Papal Intention for February 2010. General: For all scholars and intellectuals, that by means of sincere search for the truth they may arrive at an understanding of the one true God. Missionary: That the Church, aware of its own missionary identity, may strive to follow Christ faithfully and to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples...War, hunger, oppression, environmental degradation and the current global financial crisis are all the result of selfishness and a lack of respect for the human person created in God's image, Pope Benedict XVI told diplomats from around the world. "If we wish to build true peace, how can we separate or even set at odds the protection of the environment and the protection of human life, including the life of the unborn?" the pope asked ambassadors from the 178 countries that have diplomatic relations with the Vatican. Pope Benedict met Jan. 11 with the ambassadors to offer them his best wishes for the New Year. Much of his talk focused on the environment, echoing his message for World Peace Day Jan. 1, which had as its theme "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation." The pope told the diplomats that a "self-centered and materialistic way of thinking," which ignores the fact that human beings are creatures and not gods, triggered the current global economic crisis and is also the attitude behind the devastation of the environment."The denial of God distorts the freedom of the human person, yet it also devastates creation," he said.(CNS)...Divided Christians can and must be united in meeting the modern challenges of secularization, threats to human life, environmental destruction, war and injustice, Pope Benedict XVI said. "It is precisely the desire to proclaim Christ to others and bring the world his message of reconciliation that makes one experience the contradiction of Christian divisions," the pope said Jan. 25 as he closed the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Leaders of Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant communities in Rome joined the pope for the annual prayer service at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, offering prayers and proclaiming the readings. (CNS)...Calling St. Francis of Assisi "an authentic giant of holiness," Pope Benedict XVI said the 13th-century saint continues to be a model for living simply, respecting God's creation and entering into dialogue with people of other religions.

Continuing a series of talks about theologians and saints of the Middle Ages at his weekly general audience Jan. 27, the pope said St. Francis offers a clear demonstration that "the saints are the best interpreters of the Gospel" for people of every age. St. Francis dedicated himself to living the Gospel in a radical way, preaching its message far and wide and renewing the whole church, the pope said. In 1219, St. Francis went to Egypt and met with the Muslim leader, Sultan Malik al-Kamil. "I want to underline this episode in the life of St. Francis because of its great relevance. At a time when there was a conflict between Christianity and Islam, Francis -- armed only with his faith and his personal meekness -- successfully followed the path of dialogue," the pope said. St. Francis' desire to speak to the sultan and the sultan's cordial welcome is "a model that must inspire relations between Christians and Muslims today as well, promoting a dialogue in truth, mutual respect and understanding," he said. (CNS)

NEW NOTES Page 4 So Laff :-) The right key opens the door to a beautiful musical performance.

Next Events: TawagAwit will sing in St Mary’s Parish along Onewa Road, Northcote, North Shore City during the regular Sunday mass on February 14, 2010 at 10:30am. The organizing group of a new TawagAwit chapter will sing in Good Shepherd Parish Balmoral during the English mass on February 21, 2010 at 9:30am.

Invitation: +TawagAwit invites everyone in North Shore City, Auckland, New Zealand to join the ministry: (1) The St Mary’s Church, Nortcote Chapter meets every Sunday 11:30am at St Mary’s Church at Onewa Road (coordinators: Bro Cyril-Sis Rose Bas) (2) St Thomas More Church, Glenfield meets every other Friday 7:30pm at St Thomas More Church in Glenfield (coordinators: Bro Peter-Sis Jamelle Gayaman) +Should you be in another area in New Zealand or other parts of the world, TawagAwit will help organize a chapter.

Photo at right. Sis Debbie Libre joyfully shares her message as Bro Mel looks on during their silver wedding anniversary on January 6, 2010.

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